Redskins’ defense ready for big things in ‘06

By Connor Byrne  |   Tuesday, March 28, 2006  |  Comments( 2 )

Washington Redskins
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Up to this point, the offseason for the Washington Redskins has been riddled with big-name free agent signings on both offense and defense.

Well-known players such as Antwaan Randle El, Brandon Lloyd and Christian Fauria were all brought in to aid the Redskins' offense, while former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders was brought in at a hefty price to fill the same position in Washington.

As far as the 'Skins defense goes, there were a pair of significant player signings and a major coaching hire as well. Despite that, much of the news for the Redskins came after they released star linebacker LaVar Arrington a few weeks ago. Nonetheless, Arrington didn't fit the Redskins' defense anymore, and they did just fine with him riding the bench throughout the 2005 season.

The first signing made by the Redskins on the defensive side of the ball was former St. Louis Rams strong safety Adam Archuleta. A first-round pick back in 2002, Archuleta spent the last five seasons as a key starter for the Rams' defense, averaging 82 tackles and three sacks per season. In his veteran career thus far, Archuleta has only picked off three passes, but that's not what he's known for. As a matter of fact, Archuleta will be a perfect fit for the Redskins' defense because it's all about aggressiveness and getting to the opposition's quarterback. Archuleta should be able to accumulate a few sacks per year on safety blitzes, while teaming up with free safety Sean Taylor to form one of the best tandems in all of football. If Archuleta wants to live up to his new contract, which sees him making a $10 million dollar bonus and being the richest safety in the NFL, he had better be a playmaker for the Redskins' suffocating defense. Frankly, I'd expect him to become a legitimate star in the defensive backfield under the Redskins' scheme.

Archuleta is an instant upgrade over the Redskins' starting strong safety from last season, Ryan Clark. Last season Clark racked up 42 tackles and a trio of interceptions, but he isn't adept at rushing the opposing passer, which did hurt the 'Skins on a few occasions last season. Obviously, if Washington's Hall of Fame head coach, Joe Gibbs, believed that Archuleta was an upgrade, then he probably is. After heeding to Gibbs' advice, Redskins Director of Player Personnel Vinny Cerrato and notoriously free-spending owner Dan Snyder went out and made the Archuleta deal happen. It should indeed pay major dividends for the Redskins' title-caliber defense in 2006 and beyond.

The Redskins' second signing on the defensive side of the ball is arguably bigger than the Archuleta signing. Washington freed outside linebacker/defensive end Andre Carter from the hell known simply as San Francisco. While with the basement-dwelling 49ers, Carter was always among their best defensive players, as he accumulated a grand total of 32 sacks in 69 total games over five seasons. That equates to 6.4 sacks per season for the former seventh overall pick in the draft, but expect those numbers to increase greatly with the Redskins' incredibly aggressive defensive scheme. Carter signed a six-year deal worth $30 million to line up at DE in Washington, and although that seems extravagantly high, I'll assure you that he's worth every penny.

On a regular NFL defense, neither Archuleta nor Carter are anything tremendous, but they should be in Washington. Why? Because the Redskins possess a man who is easily the best defensive coordinator in football; that man is Gregg Williams. Ever since the ex-head coach of the Buffalo Bills showed up in Washington three January's ago, the Redskins' defenses have been something to marvel at, and with even more talent to work with next season, Williams should shine once again. To prove the gratitude that the 'Skins organization has for Williams, they made him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in NFL history late last season by giving him a three-year deal worth an unprecedented $8 million. The contract also has a clause stating that Williams will be the Redskins' head coach whenever Gibbs decides it's time to leave for good. How's that for stability? It's no wonder Gibbs flew up to bitter-cold Buffalo after Williams was fired by the Bills to court the coordinator into heading for the greener pastures of Washington.

Not only do the Redskins have Williams on their defensive staff, but they have former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator extraordinaire Gregg Blache as an assistant, as well as former successful Bills coordinator Jerry Gray as the defensive backs coach. When you put those three together, you have a trio of coaches who are all at least qualified to be a coordinator; in Williams' case, he's qualified to be a head coach. Even Gray has gotten some serious looks in the past from the Houston Texans and Bills to become their head man.

At this point in time, there should be little doubt that the Washington Redskins have indeed improved their defense by adding the likes of Archuleta, Carter and even Gray as an assistant coach. If the boys from Landover, Maryland want to enjoy another playoff run next season, it'll have to once again be the defense that carries them through the rigors of the postseason. The Redskins' offense is solid, but as always, it's the defense that wins championships in this day and age. With a defense as talented and well-coached as Washington's, Gibbs' fourth Super Bowl title may be just around the bend.

--Connor Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com
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